Miniature Pecan Pies

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, chilled and cubed
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, chilled and cubed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup pecans
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 for the pastry shells: position knife blace in food processor bowl; add cream cheese and butter. top with cover, and pulse 3-4 times or until combined. add flour; process until dough forms a ball, leaving sides of bowl. chill dough 2 hours.
• 2 shape the dough into 24 balls; place each ball into greased 1 3/4-inch muffin tins, and shape into a shell. set aside until ready to fill.
• 3 for the pecan filling: position knife blade in food processor bowl; add pecans. top with cover, and pulse 4 times or until pecans are evenly chopped. remove pecans; set aside.
• 4 position knife blade in processor bowl; add egg, sugar, butter, vanill, and salt. top with cover, and process until smooth.
• 5 fill each pastry shell 3/4 full iwth mixture. sprinkle on pecans.
• 6 bake at 325 f for 25--30 minutes. remove immediately, and cool on rack.